THE EUCHARIST

Believing


     

“This leaflet, the first of three, aims to help you take into prayer
what we believe about the Eucharist.

You might find it helpful to do so a couple of times this week.”

+ Brian



Second Sunday of Advent

7 December 2003


(Year of the Eucharist, November 2003 – June 2004)


“At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Saviour instituted the eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, ‘a paschal banquet in which Christ is received, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.’” (Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy No 47)



We can regard the Eucharist as Jesus’ last will and testament – the gift through which He wished to be remembered. This is why we come together for Mass – for “the Breaking of Bread”. What we believe about the Eucharist is very rich – read again the above quotation. Like everything we do frequently, familiarity can deaden our awareness of what we are doing. Thinking about, and taking into prayer what we believe, can deepen our appreciation of what we are doing when we come to Mass.
“Lord, you are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness.
Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy,
so that they may become for us
the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

“Before he was given up to death,
a death He freely accepted,
he took bread and gave you thanks.
He broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you, and eat it:
this is my body which will be given up for you.

“When supper was ended, he took the cup.
Again He gave you thanks and praise,
gave the cup to his disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it:
this is the cup of my blood,
the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.
It will be shed for you and for all
so that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in memory of me.”


“May all of us who share in the body and blood of Christ
be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit.”

(Eucharistic Prayer II)



1.     Make yourself reasonably comfortable and read these familiar words much more slowly than we do at Mass … When you’ve finished, read them again …

2.     Is there any sentence, phrase or word, that particularly strikes you? … Why? … You might like to pray (talk with Christ) about that …

3.     On the eve of a death He “freely accepted”, He gave thanks, and gave Himself – to them and to us. Think about all of that … a death He freely accepted …. giving thanks … giving Himself to us, to you …

4.     Twice we petition the Holy Spirit (in the 1st and 4th paragraph of the Eucharistic Prayer printed on page 3). What are the two tasks we ask the Spirit to do?

5.     “Eucharist” means “Thanksgiving”. Spend a little time recalling people, situations, events for which you are grateful. Conclude by being grateful for Jesus Christ.